Child Reacts to Recalled Product

Quaker Canada reports that late last week a boy had an allergic reaction to a product that the company had just recalled – Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack.

Following a trip to the hospital for the reaction to a peanut-containing bar, the boy is now “safe and well at home,” according to Bill Walker, a spokesperson for Quaker Canada.

On November 24, Quaker Canada had issued a voluntary recall of its Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack with 14 bars per package, which are supposed to be peanut-free, due to a packaging error with peanut-filled bars.

Walker explained to Allergic Living that the peanut-free bars were placed in their proper individual foil wrappers, but that the mistake occurred at the packaging facility when boxes bearing the “peanut-free” label were wrongly filled with other wrapped bars – which contain peanuts.

The affected product, Quaker brand Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack, 14 bars, 364 grams, bears the UPC bar code 55577 10742. The company urges Canadians to check the UPC code if they they’ve purchased this product. The bars the value pack should contain are Chewy Chocolate Chip and Chewy S’mores, both of which are made at a dedicated peanut-free plant.

But some cartons contain the wrong bars – labeled Dipps Chocolate Chip and Dipps Caramel Nut on the wrappers – which contain peanuts and are made at a different facility. Quaker Canada says retailers will offer a refund if a package contains the peanut-filled bars.

When notified of the child’s reaction, Walker says Quaker Canada “tripled its efforts” to make sure that all the information about the recall was widely available. The company has not heard any other reports of allergic reactions.

Production has now been closed at that packaging facility pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Quaker Canada will then put forward an action plan based on the facts gathered from the investigation to ensure that the same mistake “never” happens again.

“Our main priority is the health and safety of our consumers,” Walker told Allergic Living. Retailers across Canada have been working quickly to pull all recalled boxes off the shelves. He says that Quaker Canada has been receiving a variety of comments from the public, but most consumers have expressed thanks for the swift efforts to notify Canadians of the recall.

Efforts include working with allergy and health groups, the media, school boards, Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Once Quaker Canada feels that the public is fully informed of the recall, the company will focus on the internal investigation.

Consumers with questions can call Quaker Canada toll-free at 1-800-267-6287.